***
***
Financial director Benjamin Spragg recently gave the Legislative Council a five-year capital improvement plan totaling $26.9 million for the period beginning July 1, 1986. Mr Spragg said the plan would give town officials a long-range perspective on costly projects that the town will be facing.
***
A storm covered Newtown with a blanket of crisp clean snow this week, bringing out the wonders of its winter landscape. The snowfall came just in time to make it a traditional holiday season with a white Christmas after all.
***
Realtech Realtors recently released their fourth quarter report for 1985, with an emphasis on the Newtown real estate market. Newtown is the largest town in Fairfield County and is still predominantly rural, with only 25 percent developed. Currently a two-acre building site in Newtown costs $80,000. Forty-two existing homes were listed for sale, three priced under $100,000, eight priced $100-$150,000, ten priced from $200-$250,000, five priced from $250-$300,000, eight priced above $300,000, and two above $500,000.
December 30, 1960
The first baby born in 1961 to parents residing in Newtown will reap many âfirst giftsâ from local merchants, who have banded together to contribute for the fortunate child, and the lucky parents, too, everything from a case of strained baby food for the baby to a special full course dinner for the parents.
***
A special feature was added to the Christmas party of the Social and Athletic Club of Sandy Hook, last Thursday evening, by the SAC boys at their clubhouse at SAC Park. A Resolution of Appreciation was presented to Mr and Mrs Wilton Lackaye by the board of directors of the senior group, in appreciation of their years of leadership of the club.
***
Susan Abbott, daughter of Mr and Mrs Frederick W. Abbott of Currituck Road, was crowned as queen of the annual formal Sno-Ball dance last Friday evening at the Congregational Church. Miss Abbott was crowned as queen with a tiara of flowers, which she wore for the remainder of the festivities.
Â
***
Santa Claus was greeted upon his arrival at the lower, rear parking area of Edmond Town Hall Saturday morning, when he winged in by helicopter for a visit with his many young Newtown friends. He was enthroned in the gymnasium where he greeted youngsters until 2 pm. Following the lengthy town hall session, he toured Newtown to waft his heartiest holiday best to all his friends.
December 27, 1935
Primacy of the newspaper press as the âonly real and trustworthy medium for dissemination of news and the moulding of public opinionâ is upheld by Winston Churchill, noted English statesman. After a thorough analysis of the subject, Mr Churchill is convinced âthere can be no really serious challenge to the press from either radio or moving picturesâ and looking further ahead, from promised television.
***
The local postoffice has experienced probably one of the busiest years since its existence. Extra help was employed at the office and for the first time in its history mail was so heavy on Saturday that 15 extra sacks arrived at the postoffice late Saturday night and 15 more arrived early Sunday. Postmaster McCarthy and his staff were forced to work a good share of the day on Sunday. Postmaster Carmody of Sandy Hook also experienced a heavy rush.
***
The most treacherous traveling of the season existed on the state road in town Friday evening until Saturday noon when the road men completed the sanding of the hills. Snow started to fall about 4 oâclock and by 6 oâclock almost one hundred cars were either trying to get up or down Mt Pleasant Hill. Many of the cars were ditched and several were slightly damaged. Church Hill also proved a hazard for the motorists.
***
The weather of last Friday afternoon was a little rough for those veteran golfers, Dr W. Northey Jones, Dr Maurice Corrigan, W.M. McKenzie and Arthur J. Smith, Sr. They didnât mind the cold, but no solution was found to prevent losing the balls in the drifting snow. They have since admitted that winter is here, and so there will be no more golf until the spring.
Â
December 30, 1910
David Smith of Cornwall Bridge has bought the grocery business of Stanley Blackman at Hawleyville, and will take possession some time in March.
***
Hattertown: There is little doubt that the shriek and grind of trolley cars rounding the curves will be heard in this little burg before the end of the new year. It is reported that $100,000 worth of stock in the new Danbury-Bridgeport Trolley Co. has already been subscribed by residents along the proposed route, the right of way has been purchased from the terminus of the tracks in Bethel to Dodgingtown, and that contracts have been signed for 20,000 ties.
***
Mrs J.W. Gordon and Miss Dorette L. Gordon will open new classes, this week, in instrumental and vocal music and musical kindergarten at their comfortable music rooms on the Street. It is a matter for congratulations that a small town can boast of a sufficient number of people who are appreciative of the worth of thorough, conscientious teaching.
***
Oliver N. Warner of Sandy Hook, met instant death in an awful accident at Botsford. He was working with a gang of telephone men, and was crushed to death by a pole. He was a son of Wales Warner, and was 35 years of age.